Moo-ve over cow’s milk. Dairy-free milks, made from soy, rice, oat, almond or coconut are full of flavour and are good for you too! Some work better for drinking and some are better for cooking. Try a few to find the one that suits you. Some even come in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. Sanitarium, So Good, Vitasoy, Get Natural and Rice Dream are all widely available from supermarkets, health shops and even some dairies. Many are fortiﬁed with added vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and vitamin B12. Some even contain more calcium than cow’s milk.

Butter

Butter is easily replaced with a dairy-free margarine such as Olivani or Nuttelex or you can use vegetable oils. Margarine can be used for cooking, baking and spreading. Refined coconut oil, tahini and avocado can also be used in place of butter for spreading.

Cheese

Top off your pizzas, burgers and pastas with the growing variety of animal-friendly cheeses. Vegusto, My Life Bio, Sheese, Tofutti and Cheezly are brands of dairy-free cheese imported from overseas. New Zealand’s own Angel Food brand produces melting mozzarella (also available as an option at Hells Pizza!), sauce mixes and parmesan-style cheese. Leahey also makes a great cheese sauce mix. Or you can try making your own.

Cream & Sour Cream

Toffuti and Sheese both make a variety of cream cheeses. Toffuti and Angel Foods also make sour creams that are perfect replacements for a sour cream dip or can be used in cooking.

Cream

Alpro cream is available in most supermarkets, but if you want to try making your own, coconut cream can be whipped to make a thick cream and homemade cashew nut cream is delicious. Both are good options for replacing dairy cream. You can even spread cashew nut cream on top of lasagna or casseroles in the place of ricotta (soft Italian cheese).

Ice Cream

Dairy-free ice cream is made with soy or coconut milk and is just as rich and creamy as its dairy counterparts. With brands like So Good, some of the Litelicks flavours, Coyo Ice Cream and Little Island, there is a range of yummy ﬂavours. Vegan sorbet can also be found in many supermarkets, (just check the ingredients list on the tub), and cafés. Or why not try making some yourself?

Yoghurt

There are plenty of dairy-free yoghurt options! Not only are they delicious, they are full of probiotics. Soy and coconut versions are commonly available in the supermarket fridge section and there are heaps of great flavours to try. Doctors Choice Bio Coconut yoghurt, Coyo coconut yoghurt, Kingland soy yoghurt, and Tonzu yoghurt, which is available in many supermarkets. Alpro pudding cups are also available in vanilla, chocolate, caramel or gingerbread.